Hand tool for inserting and withdrawing a pin grid into and from a socket

Abstract

A hand tool has spreadable jaws to grip a pin grid and/or socket. The same jaws are positionable vertically with respect to each other to insert and/or withdraw a pin grid into and from a socket.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hand tool for selectively inserting the pins of electronic elements into engagement with and withdrawing the pins from pin engaging sockets secured to a substrate comprising: a top mounting block having opposite sides,   a pair of outer side plates secured at their upper end to the opposite sides of the mounting block and extending downwardly therefrom to define jaws for selectively engaging the elements and sockets,   a pair of inner side plates slidably positioned at the lower end of the respective outer side plates and defining jaws at their lower end for selectively engaging the elements and sockets,   means for actuating the jaws to engage the elements and sockets, and   means for raising the inner side plates and their jaws relative to the outer side plates and their jaws, thereby withdrawing the element pins from pin engaging sockets, said raising means including a link mounting block slidably positioned between the side plates, a first pair of articulated link sets pivotably linking the top mounting block with the link mounting block and a plunger slidably positioned in the top mounting block to slidingly engage and and spread the link sets in a first plane, thereby pulling the link and top mounting blocks toward each other to raise the inner side plates.   
     
     
       2. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 in which the outer side plates define element tabs for engaging the top of an element and cooperate with the raising of the inner side plate jaws to compress the element and socket together between the inner side plate jaws and the element tabs, thereby to insert the pins into the sockets. 
     
     
       3. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 which includes guide rods extending downwardly from the top mounting block and extending through the link mounting block and spring positioned on the guide rods to load the link mounting plate downwardly. 
     
     
       4. A hand tool as set forth in claim 3 wherein the top mounting block is rectangular, and the tool further includes a second pair of outer side plates each secured at their upper end to the remaining two sides of the rectangular mounting block, and a second pair of inner side plates slidably positioned at the lower end of respective ones of the second pair of outer side plates and defining jaws at their lower end. 
     
     
       5. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the raising means further includes a spreader mounting block slidably positioned between the side plates, a second pair of articulated link sets pivotally linking opposite peripheral portions of the mounting block with the outer portion of the spreader mounting block, the plunger rod being slidably positioned in the top mounting block to slidingly engage and spread the link sets in a second plane, thereby pushing the spreader and top mounting blocks away from each other. 
     
     
       6. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 which further includes a spreader mounting block slidably positioned below the link mounting block,   spreader links secured to the spreader mounting block engaging link lips formed in the outer side plates,   a second pair of articulated link sets pivotally linking opposite peripheral portions of the mounting block with the outer portion of the spreader mounting block, and   the plunger being slidably positioned in the top mounting block to slidingly engage and extend the link sets, thereby pushing the spreader mounting block away from the top mounting block and spreading the side plates and jaws apart to engage the elements and sockets.   
     
     
       7. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first pair of articulated link sets pivotally link opposite peripheral portions of the top mounting block with a central portion of the link mounting block. 
     
     
       8. A hand tool as set forth in claim 7 which further includes a spreader mounting block slidably positioned below the link mounting block,   spreader links secured to the spreader mounting block engaging link lips formed in the outer side plates,   a second pair of articulated link sets pivotally linking opposite peripheral portions of the mounting block with the outer portion of the spreader mounting block, and   the plunger being slidably positioned in the top mounting block to slidingly engage and extend the link sets, thereby pushing the spreader mounting block away from the top mounting block and spreading the side plates and jaws apart to engage the elements and sockets, said plunger rod being rotatable to engage one of the first and second pairs of link sets.   
     
     
       9. A hand tool as set forth in claim 8 which includes guide rods extending downwardly from the top mounting block and extending through the link mounting block and spring positioned on the guide rods to load the link mounting plate downwardly, the guide rod extending through the spreader mounting block to slidingly support the same.